Wonder • Five Hargreeves

38.5

France. A Winnie Short.
Return of Marie.

Marie was in her 4th year at her French Arts University. She hadn't changed much. She was still that beautiful raven haired girl with tan skin and sharp eyes. She'd calmed down though... less likely to run into an art room and confront a sleeping girl.

It had been a long while since that day in the art room with Winnie Hargreeves, but Marie remembered it fondly.

She had only seen Winnie a handful of times since then; here and there, walking through the halls, attending or teaching a guest lecture every so often. Winnie was more like a pet, or really a haunting spirit, than a true student at the university. One with a deep underbelly of rumors... both good and bad.

When Marie woke up that morning though, she wasn't thinking about Winnie. She had other things on her mind. She had rolled out of bed and decided to walk to class early.

Under her arm, Marie carried one of her unfinished paintings. Really though, it was finished. It just wasn't a style of painting that Marie felt comfortable with- too modern and raw. There was no real subject, just a mess of paint and emotions, which agonized Marie to the point she had been tweaking it for weeks before class.

That morning, she had intended to do just that. But instead- as she turned the corner, her usual quiet and empty classroom was in uproar!

Bodies filled the studio; hundreds of students and professors pushed to get into the room. Their eyes wide with excitement as everyone seemed lit-up with energy. They talked so loudly and Marie had never been more confused.

"Whats going on?" Marie grabbed at one of her classmates. A tall boy with dreads dyed blue, turned to her with a grin.

"It's Winnie! The little blonde- shes agreed to do a critique."

If one was not familiar with the term critique in how it applies to the art world, it can best be described as a usually humiliating experience of putting your artwork on a stand in front of your peers while they systematically tear it apart, ask questions, and give advice on how to do it better.

Generally- it was not something most people looked forward to unless they were a masochist.

"Why is everyone excited?" Marie asked the obvious. She knew Winnie offering to do anything for the university was odd, but...

"No, no Marie. You dont get it. Winnie offered to do a critique- and the best in the show, shes offered to paint their future!" The boy grabbed Marie and shook. Her eyes were wide and she finally understood the chaos.

Getting your future painted by Winnie was an honor that only a few were ever bestowed. Her father, Reginald Hargreeves- one of the richest men in the world- used her paintings like currency. Anyone he wanted a favor of; politicians, other millionaires, corporate tycoons across the world- they would do anything to get their hands on her artwork.

Winnie, herself, had also been known to gift paintings to people she liked- but they tended to be odd sorts of people. Mob bosses, pirates, mad geniuses, librarians, the orchestra, NASA. She very rarely offered it as an open source.

Marie swallowed and looked around the crowd. She recognized her classmates and professors setting up all around the room. They brought their best pieces of art; sculptures, water colors, pottery. They all wanted a shot.